newsitems

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- While Time Deadlines arrive at a Critical Threshold, it's near to 2 "Eurofora"'s key observations/suggestions that a Solution might, perhaps, be found Nowadays to the 4,5 Years Old row between Russia and CoE's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), since all the Russian MEPs were pushed to Quit that Strasbour's body, by Harsher than expected Sanctions, imposed when the Ukranian Conflict was reaching a Pic in growing Deadly Clashes, including Civilian People, particularly at the Eastern pro-Autonomy Regions, and without any really important change since then, despite the 2015 Minsk Agreements, only Partly applied until now.

Meanwhile, after Many Years of exceptional Absence of Russian MEPs from PACE, (even if Russia continued to be part of CoE's Inter-Governemental bodies and activities), Moscow anounced, and recently started to apply in real practice, first a Partial, and afterwards a Total Suspension of its Financial Contribution to CoE's overall Budget, until it would be Guaranteed that its MEPs might Return without Risk to be again Deprived from their Voting and Participation Rights.

A situation which has Now Reached a Critical Point, as the End of June is traditionaly considered to be the Last moment for a CoE's Member Country to pay its Annual Contribution, or not, and UnPrecedented Financial Restrictions (recently Aggravated also by Turkey's UnExpected, Unilateral Decision to Cut almost the Half of its own Contribution, for undeclared motives) have Started to provoke Growing Tensions inside the CoE, including even Angry Protests by some Radio-TV Journalists upset from an anouncement that they will have, from now on, to Pay Cash any use of Camera and/or Studio Facilities at the CoE, which were traditionaly offered to them Free of Charge, (as "Eurofora" witnessed during a Press Meeting earlier this Morning)...

At the Same Time, in parallel, from a Political point of view, that Problem has inevitably Curtailed CoE's own Role as a PanEuropean Organisation, since the ReUnification of Europe at the 1990ies, by putting in Trouble, inter alia, particularly its Cooperation and Joint Activities in the Fight against Deadly Islamist Terrorism Targetting innocent Civilian People throughout the EU and Russia (as well as USA, and elsewhere in the World), Reducing CoE's role in the Quest for Peace in Ukraine (where, on the Contrary, the Vienna-based OSCE took a quasi-Exclusivity), not to speak about Syria, etc, made UnBalanced the Choice of New ECHR's EuroJudges (since Russian MEPs haven't Voted in the Election by PACE of about 33% of New EuroJudges, as Moscow officially Protested these Days, in the run up to the forthcoming Election by PACE even of CoE's New Chief : its New Secretary General from 2019...), while Geo-Political Balance in all Parliamentary Contacts and/or Negotiations, and All Public MEPs' Debates in Any Topical Issue related to COE's Oganisation for Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law, (including even BioEthics, as back on 2013+), has been Lacking.

Such excessive and persisting ImBalances (and the Negative Climate that they inevitably provoked, at least partly, as if Half of CoE had been suddenly Forced to Return Back to a ... "Cold War" Era of the Past) were Criticized and Denounced recently by an Important Report, with Resolution and Recommendation to its Committee of Ministers, adopted by CoE's Assembly during the Autumn of 2017, particularly in view of the overall Mission of Strasbourg's PanEuropean Organisation, and, also, in the perspective of an evental New CoE's Summit probably on 2019, which raised in New Terms the Issue of Russia's Full Participation into the CoE : Not Only Inter-Governemental, but also Parliamentary.

This, and other parallel Developments, led also to the Creation,  led also to the Creation, from December 2017, of an Original, High-Level, "Ad Hoc" Committee "on the Mission and the Role" of CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly, crafted Also in order to Include an exceptional instance of Dialogue with Top Russian MEPs, (and with the Participation even of Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives of CoE's Member States' National Governments, usually centered around its Committee of Ministers), which organized substantial Meetings on the Sidelines of PACE's Plenary Sessions in Strasbourg, (i.e., already on January and April 2018, See, f.ex. : "Eurofora"s NewsReports at http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coedialogueonrussiacontinuesmarch.html, + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/russiacoesyria.html, etc), as well as of its Standing Committee's Sessions in other Cities and/or Countries, (f.ex., in Paris, on March 2018, and in Zagreb, on May 2018, since Croatia took over from Denmark CoE's rotating semestrial Presidency, 5-11/2018).

=> As a Result also of this New Round, made out of Periodic, but Regular, High-Level Dialogue, Both on PanEuropean CoE's overall Role, and on Russia's part, it seems, Nowadays, Possible to eventually Seek and soon Find a Solution, at last, to that protracted Problem of Europe's recent, counter-productive, and dangerous Division.

The point became more Clear, after CoE has just decided, this June 2018, to "De-Classify" an Interesting "Memorantum" (Drafted by PACE's out-going President Nicoletti from Italy), which Resumes All relevant Proposals made by various CoE Member Countries and/or MEPs' Political Groups during that "Ad Hoc" High-Level Committee's Meetings.

>>> Astonishingly, but logically, such a possible Perspective Follows, in Fact, the PathWay of "Eurofora"'s 2 Key Observations and Suggestions, which we had, inter alia, Resumed and Reminded, at the Latest, during a mid-May 2018 Meeting in the CoE with the current President-in-office of its Committee of Ministers, Croatian Ambassador/Permanent Representative Miroslav Papa (for May - November 2018 : See Infra).

- Earlier Today, PACE's Secretary General, Wojciech Sawicki, Replying to an "Eurofora"'s Question, during the traditional Press Briefing with Strasbourg's European Journalists at the Eve of CoE Assembly's Plenary Session, Next Week in Strasbourg, (25-29 June 2018), made it clear that, if, in its Forthcoming Meeting, on Tuesday Afternoon (26/6/2018), that "Ad Hoc" Committee probably Adopts its Official "Report", then, this would Conclude and put an "End" at its Existence, since the Issues it used to Deal with, will Return, then, Back to CoE's Ordinary Top Bodies, i.e. PACE's Bureau and CoE's Inter-Governemental Committee of Ministers, for relevant Decisions, (normally Before January 2019, which is, as things stand Today, the Latest Occasion for an eventual Return of Russian MEPs back to the PACE, for Next Year).

- But, that "Report" is expected to look very much Alike, in its overall Structure, to this "Memorantum", which has just been "De-Classified", Sawicki warned us.

+ Concerning those Issues, Speaking Earlier, since mid-May 2018, with the New President-in-office of CoE's Highest Political Body, that of its Committee of Ministers, Croatian Ambassador Miroslav Papa, in Reply to his own Observation that the Issue of Relations with Russia, as well as CoE's Budget, would be among the most Topical Big "Challenges" Faced by the Croatian Presidency, (in Addition to the relevant Question of the preparation of an eventual New CoE's Heads of State/Government Summit for 2019 or later), "Eurofora" had made, during those Exchanges, mainly 2 Key Observations :

    * (A). From a purely "PRACTICAL" point of view, regarding the TIME still Available in order to Try to eventually Find a workable Compromise for an adequate Solution of the above-mentioned "Russian" Issue, Before it might become Too Late (Comp. Supra), "Eurofora" had reiterated, then, our Previous Suggestion, (that We had Already Made, Earlier, already since January 2018, to PACE's Secretary General, Wojciech Sawicki, who Replied Positively : see http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coereformtoeaserussiasolution.html , etc), to eventually make the necessary Changes in order to Enable PACE to Ratify all MEPs' Credentials, Not Only on its January Session, at the Beginning of Each Year, but, during All, Anyone among its Four (4) Plenary Sessions (i.e. on January, or April, June, September/October), so that Parliamentary Diplomacy would have, instead of Only 1, much Better : Four (4) Occasions, during each Year, to find a successful Compromise.

=> Now, such a Proposal has been Also Supported Explicitly, at least by "Romania", inside CoE's High-Level "Ad Hoc" Committee, which has just suggested to "allow each delegation (of MEPs) to fill its seats at any time during a year, and not exclusively before the January part-session", as the above-mentioned "Memorandum" reveals.

+ Moreover, PACE's Secretary General, Sawicki, went Today as far as to also Add, in this Same regard, even anOther such Possibility to Gain precious Time : - PACE could Decide, if it wishes, to Add also One More : i.e. a 5th Plenary Session, "Exceptionally", f.ex. "on December 2018", during which it could have one More Opportunity to Deal with the Issue of Russian MEPs' Credentials, and/or Change its own Rules, in this regard, (Comp. Supra and Infra), he told us during his Press Briefing, earlier this Morning.

- Such a Move is Legally Possible, since PACE's Rules of Procedure provide for "up to 30 Days" for PACE's Full Meetings during Each Year, while, until now, "we don't use but only 20 such Days, Yearly", (i.e. 4 regular Plenaries X 5 Days each = 20, leaving +10 More Days, theoretically Free to be used whenever PACE might like to do so).

 - "It all Depends on whether a Political Will exists, or not, since Technically, Everything is Possible !", the Experienced Sawicki underlined in this regard, smiling.

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    *(B). Concerning the "SUBSTANCE" of the Issue, even if the "Guarantee" that Russia notoriously seeks, for Any MEPs (Russian and/or Other), Not to be Deprived from their Voting and/or Participation Rights (Comp. Supra), might, Eventually, Not be Explicitly Supported also by a Sufficient Number of Other CoE Member Countries, (as the above-mentioned "Memorantum" rather indicates), Nevertheless, there is Also anOther Workable, Alternative Possibility :

    - Indeed, as "Eurofora" had Denounced (and Proved with Crystal-clear Hard Facts), already as Early as since the very Day that Some, inside PACE, suddenly Broke an earlier Compromise (to put just a Few "Sanctions", for only 1 Year), and Pushed, with a Last-Minute Amendment, in order to Impose much More, and Heavier "Sanctions", so that they Pushed, the Exasperated Russian MEPs to Leave PACE. But the Interesting point, (which, Curiously, seems to pass still Unnoticed or, at least, "Silenced", by most Commentators in Establishment's Traditional Medias), is the Fact that, (by Exploiting the Abstention of Russians then, added also to Various Other Countries' MEPs Exceptional Absence), it was Only a ... MINORITY of MEPs who had Voted, Back on 2014, for such Excessive "Sanctions", which Broke a Compromise (Comp. Supra) and Pushed Russia Out of the PACE ! (See the Original "Eurofora"s NewsReport, as Published the very Day of that Event, at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeminorityamendmentpushesrussianmepsout.html , etc).     

    
    >>> And, NOW, the above-mentioned PACE's "MEMORANDUM", just Published this June 2018 (Comp. Supra), clearly Reveals that, in fact, there are MANY National Delegations, among CoE's Member Countries, and/or MEPs, who Ask to Maken ibn the Future, much More Difficult, than in the Past, to Refuse MEPs' Credentials, and/or to Impose very Heavy Sanctions, Depriving MEPs from their Rights to Vote and/or Participate in CoE's Parliamentary  Assembly's activities. (F.ex., by Requiring to Verify the Quorum, and/or Setting a Higher Quorum ; by Asking for an Absolute Majority or even a Special, Qualified Majority : f.ex. of the Two Thirds, 2/3, etc).   

    In other words, even if Russia might, eventually, not have fully Convinced, inside the CoE, a Wide-Enough circle of People, that Heavy Sanctions Depriving MEPs even from almost all their Vote and Participation Rights, would be abnatural, a Violation of Democratically Elected Parliamentarians' elementary Rights, i.e. something InCompatible with a really Democratic Parliament's Values and Principles,  as Moscow claims, as well as Against PACE's Mission as a PanEuropean Forum for Public Dialogue, Nevertheless, they seem to have pretty Convinced a Lot of CoE's Member States' representatives that this is something Wrong, or, at least, Too "Heavy" or Extreme, as measure, so that it shouldn't be allowed for anyone to eventually risk to abuse of such methods too easily...                 

                    
    => In Consequence, if such kind of Proposals are Adopted by PACE's, High Level, "Ad Hoc" Committee (Comp. Supra), Next Week in Strasbourg, (Comp. Supra), then, Russia would have, in real Practice, (given also the Fact that its Adversaries Never had any Majority inside the PACE, not even back on 2014, as we found : Comp. Supra), an Important Guarantee for its MEPs, almost as it wished, (Comp. Supra).

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+ In Fact, what happened back on 2014 is Not just as Question of DisProportional or Excessive "Sanctions" on Russian MEPs, but much More a "Double Standards" matter, Compared, at least, to way that Turkey was treated by PACE : Indeed, initially, on 1994, PACE had adopted a Resolution warning the Turkish MEPs that their Credentials would be Rejected if Ankara did Not Stop, in 6 Months, to grossly Violate CoE's Principles and Disrespect its own Commitments, concerning, f.ex., widespread Torture+Inhuman/Degrading Treatments, Killings of Dissidents, Scorched Earth Practices, Refusal to Recognize the Armenian Genocide, Military Invasion and Occupaton of Cyprus' Northern Territories, (an over-Millenary European Civilisation Country, from Ancient Greece and Byzantine Empire, up to 4 Centuries French Kingdom, +2 Italy's Venise, almost 1 Century British, and 58 Years Intependent State), Refusal to Apply ECHRs' Judgements, War Threats against Greece at the Aegean Sea, bloody Kurdish Conflict, (etc).

But, Suddenly, on 1995-1996, Despite Turkey's Refusal to obtemperate, PACE Backed Down, made a Spectacular U-Turn, and Changed all that into a mere ..."Monitoring" Process !  Meanwhile, inter alia, French Prime Minister Eduard Balladur (whose Family was of Armenian Origin) had been ousted, and Helmut Kohl's ChristianDamocrats/EPP had been radicaly Weakened, on the brink or loosing their Parliamentary Majority in Germany, while, in Italy, Prime Minister Ciampi, who had studied Ancient Greek, and whose Government Coalition included 2 Parties of the Right, with a ChristianDemocrat Foreign Minister close to Kohl then, had left, (etc)...

    However, Russia wasn't yet a CoE's Member State then, so that, perhaps, most of its Diplomats simply Ignore that Historic PACE's 1994 U-Turn on Turkey, and/or UnderEstimate the Exclusion of Greece during the Colonels' regime (1967-1974), while, once again, even when Turkish Colonels Hung alive an elected Prime Minister and Imposed a "Coup d'Etat" in the 1960ies, despite a CoE's Human Rights' Director reportedly Angry and crying at the European Organision's corridors that Turkey should have Never been CoE Member (since the Cold War), nevertheless, Nothing happened...    

    So that the Russian MEPs' Ousting from PACE, added to several previous Threats against former Ukranian Governments' MEPs accused to be Too Friendly towards Russia in the Past, but also to the Exclusion, out of the CoE, for the Greek "Colonels" regime (etc), while Nothing Similar ever happened for Turkey, with that 1994 CoE's "U-Turn" (Comp. Supra), not even during the 1960 Coup d'Etat which Hang a Prime Minister (and 2 of his Ministers), Neither later at the 1980 Coup d'Etat, despite a Massive Oppression of various Ankara regime's Dissidents, (etc), all that, obviously, looks to be Too Much of "Double Standards".

    => Added to the above-mentioned, "too Heavy", if not even Incompatible with Elected Paliamentarians' Rights, character of so Harsh Measures (as Suspension of Vote + Participation Rights, etc), that they would, at least, Need a Quorum, Special Majority and/or Other Safeguards against Risks of Abuse, as Many proposed Recently in PACE's High Level "Ad Hoc" Committee (Comp. Supra), all that, naturally Pleads towards Finding, at least Now, a well Balanced and Workable Solution on this Russia - PACE row asap.

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    According to that recently DeClassified "Memorandum", and as PACE's Secretary General Sawicki confirmed Today in his Press Briefing, if the High-Level "Ad Hoc" Committee adopts a similar Report, it will, most probably, Result in a Double Transmission to Both PACE's Committees on Political affairs and on Rules and Procedures, for relevant Changes in CoE Assembly's official Rules, as well as to the Inter-Governemental CoE's Committee of Ministers, for Coordinated Moves, and eventual even Changes in CoE's overall Statute, if necessary.

    + Already, an Indication that, indeed, something like this might be currently prepared, and almost already on the pipeline, is also the relevant Fact that CoE has just Decided to "Revive" its "Joint Committee", (Composed by Representatives of Both its Parliamentary Assembly, and its InterGovernemental Committee of Ministers), from Next Week, as Sawicki Anounced Today.

    The Russian Parliamentary side is due to be Represented, from Tuesday, already in the probably Last Meeting of CoE's "Ad Hoc" High Level Committee (Comp. Supra), by its Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee's President, Leonid Slutsky, one of the 2 most Experienced Top Russian MEPs who know well PACE, since a Long Time ago, as well as his collegue from the Federal Council, Konstantin Kosachev, (the President of that Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, who reportedly was not only in Strasbourg Back on January, but also in Zagreb on May 2018).

    ++ Meanwhile, in anOther Exceptional Move Recently, CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jaglant, suddenly Visited Moscow just two Days ago, on 19 to 20 June 2018, where he met, inter alia, also with the Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov, (Comp., inter alia, also Lavrov's Statements to "Eurofora", already as Early as since the May 2011 "G 8" Summit of Heads of State/Government in Deauville, France, at: ..., etc), but even with President Vladimir Putin himself, at the Kremlin : Something which had not occured for Years, (since 2016).

Jagland, a former Prime Minister and President of Parliament at Neighbouring Norway, and Top Member of the Oslo Committe for NOBEL Peace Prize, had clearly expressed his Interest for the PanEuropean Dimension of the CoE, in repeated Statements replying to relevant "Eurofora"s Questions, already as early as since his 1st Press Conference, immediately after his initial Election in Strasbourg, back on 2009, but also more Recently, during a Press Point on his Re-Election on 2014, even after some had provoked the Ukranian conflict, (See, f.ex. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/jaglandagg1.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coesgonpaneuropeanspacefuture.html , etc).

>>> But the Most Substantial Issue on which Jagland is Consistently building upon for CoE's relations with Russia, as a matter of General Principle, related also to Strasbourg's PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law main Mission, proved to be, once again, his concern to Safeguard a fully-fledged functioning of ECHR's Jurisdiction, for the Protection of Citizens' Rights and a Democratic Functioning of the State, throughout all CoE's 47 Member Countries, naturally including the Biggest of all, Russia with about 150 Millions of Population, as he reiterated on this occasion also just 2 Days ago in Moscow, on 20 June 2018.

- Shortly Afterwards, a Statement attributed to Foreign Minister Lavrov, after his meeting with COE's Secretary General Jagland, expressed Russia's "Concern" for "the Fact that, because of the PACE Crisis, more than 1/3 of the Judges at the ECHR have been Elected withOut the Participation of a delegation of Russian" MEPs, (who, normally, should Vote, Together with All other MEPs from CoE's 47 Member Countries, every time that there is an Election of a New EuroJudge to the ECHR by PACE, among 3 Candidates, during PACE's Plenary Sessions in Strasbourg, (as, f.ex., for the Choice of a New EuroJudge from San Marinio, Next Week, while Turkey's, as well as Other EuroJudges' Election was reportedly Postponed for October 2018 or even Later).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
- But, in a subsequent meeting and Press Conference with UNO's Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, Yesterday (21 June 2018) in Moscow, Lavrov expressed also Russia's belief in what he called : - the "Vital Sphere of Human Rights", as he said, speaking of USA's WIthdrawal from UNO's World Council of Human Rights (WCHR), at nearby Geneva. (On UNO's Historic 2005 Summit's decision to create WCHR, on 9/2005 in New York, Comp. also "Eurofora" co-Founder's NewsReport from NYC, Published then at "TCWeekly).

- Even Acknowledging that "No one ... is Perfect", as he said, the Russian MFA observed, on this occasion that "the Number of complaints against Russia sent to the ECHR has Dropped more than Three times (-300%) over the past 5 Years", compared to the Past.

Even if not any Official Statemenrt was Published on the well known Political Issues AFTER those Top Meetings, neither in Moscow, nor in Strasbourg, (Comp. also Infra), nevertheless, at least the Photos Published by Kremlin's website, look quite positive...

Meanwhile, Moscow curiously is, these Same Days, at the Epicenter of an Exceptionally Dense and Busy Diplomatic "Whirlpool", the above-mentioned Exceptional Visit of CoE's Secretary General Thornbjorn Jagland, 2 Days ago, (not just for the ...Football Mundial, as he pointed out, in his meetng with President Putin, who had taken the initiative to point there), was Followed by a Phone Call from Urkanian President Pedro Poroshenko, that Putin extended also into a Briefing to UN Security Council Members the same day, before another Official Visit by UNO's Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who met with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Yesterday, (Comp. Supra), preceded by Exceptional Phone-Conversations, Earlier, between Lavrov and Mike Pompeo, the New USA's Secretary of State, since June 18, also about a forthcoming possible USA - Russia Summit with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Don Trump, perhaps in Vienna, "for the Near Future",  as it was said, in the current preparations for the July 11, 2018, Summit of NATO, (whose Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, who was recenty reported as Favorable to USA - Russia Top Meetings, (and even NATO - Russia)..., which should better take place "as Quickly as possible", as Kosachev reportedly advised.

In the Middle of all that, "Eurofora" was Surprized to realize (unfortunately too Late) that we had an unexpected Chance to Cross COE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland himself, who had Silently Walked along our Left Side, all the way from CoE's Main Hall (Exceptionally full of Music, then, because of a Special "Music Day" here in France), up to the PanEuropean Organisation Headquarters' Main Entrance's exterior "Parvis", slowly Strolling even Turning Around us until he entered in his Car, by a Coincidence, Parked Right in Front of our Eyes, where he stayed for several Long Moments, with an Open Window, looking at a Piece of Paper, while his Driver was already sitting inside, Ready to Go, but, apparently, withOout receiving a "Green Light" Message before a Longer than expected Period of Time elapsed, Later-on...

Any Other Journalist (and, a fortiori, Particularly "Eurofora", who had Notoriously being Practicing with EU/COE+ Political Personalities, Heads of State/Govrnment, Foreign and Other Ministers, Top EU/CoE Officials or Experts, etc., Many Short but Topical, Original Interviews "on the Fly", many times and at Various Occasions, here and elsewhere), would, Naturally, had Tried to immediately Valorize such a Timely Chance, by Simply Raising at least 1 Short and Clear Question to Jagland, while he was still Remaining so Near to us, Shortly after his above-mentioned, Exceptional Visit to Moscow, and at the Eve of Crucial relevant Decisions in the Next Few Days...

But, UnExpectedly, (and withOut having fully Realized the Reasons for such a Unusual for us Behavior, Nevetheless, "Eurofora", Exceptionaly, ...Abstained from Raising Any Question at all !

Was it, merely, due to the Fact that, inter-alia, Because of an Exceptional Lack of Time, during some very Busy Days (and Nights), added to a series of various Harassments, even Aggressions (f.ex. against "Eurofora" WebNews Media Site, even Brutal Bloody Road "Accidents" hitting and seriously Wounding our Wife, with her Brake put Out of Order, and her Handlebars Sabotaged, etc), so that we were again Obliged to Work OverNight, and Sacrifice even Health in order to Catch up with Time, on too Many Occasions in a Row, so that we were Physically Exhausted ?

However, it wasn't the First Time, (and such Obstacles had Never Stopped us before, when something Really Important as News was at Stake, f.ex. concerning such Key Issues of Human Rights, BioEthics, Peace, etc)...

Or, was it, perhaps, Because of a Strange, UnPrecedented piece of "Draft" Paper, written by an Anonymous Author, (but reportedly "endorsed" by PACE's "Bureau" behind Closed Doors a Few Days Earlier, withOut any Warning, and due to be ...Silently "Endorsed" also by PACE's Plenary on Monday Morning, practically Hidden among a Lot of Various Other Papers and Reports, etc), which had Just been Distributed Silently to Strasbourg's European Journalists, during the Regular "Press Briefing" of the COE at the Eve of the forthcoming COE Assembly's Plenary Session, Next Week, and contained a Stern Prohibition (Never Seen Before in More than 24 Years of permanently Covering and Publishing European/PanEuropean/International News: +9/1993-2018 !) adressed to all COE's Accredited Journalists, among others, also to: ..."Interfere with ...the Proper (sic !) Conduct of (UnDetermined) Activities (by Anyone ?), or the Free Movement (sic !) of individuals", etc... To that was Added also the ... Crime of any Journalist to "Interfere with the.. Privacy" (sic !) of anyone, to take any (even Short) "Interview" i

=> In Other Words, IF a Journalist had Simply Tried (as it Used to be Regularly done, Many Times in the Past, here and elsewhere, with a Great Efficiency, particularly vis a vis "Busy" Top Politicians, who had No Time for Long Interviews, Intermediary Bureaucracy, etc., But were usually Willing and Able to give Short but Topical Replies, particularly to "Hot" News and/or General Policy Issues for the Press/Medias to Publish), also Now, to Simply Ask now Jagland how he Felt after his Recent Top Contacts on the Russia - PACE Issue, (Comp. Supra), even if he had Kindly Replied, with his usual Concise and Smiling way to Speak even on the most Thorny Issues, when he really Wanted to do so, with People that he Knew Well for Many Years, Nevertheless, whoever among Strasbourg's Press Workers would have Received such an Interview, Risked, from now on, to be Accused to ... "Interfere" (or "Attempt to Interfere") "with the Free Movement of Individuals", and/or to "Interfere with ... the Proper Conduct of Activities", (whatever this might mean...), or, at least, to "conduct an Interview" in a Place Other than those which were Exclusively Listed by that Strange Draft Paper (Comp. Supra) !...

In consequence, one among the relatively New but Mainstream Strasbourg's European Journalists, Samantha Agro, from the Italian Press Agency "ANSA", had just Strongly Criticized that Strange "Draft" Paper, full of UnPrecedented, obviously Excessive, and often Too Vague Prohibitions, often unnecessarily and excessively Restricting an elementary and traditionaly established, during Decades, Press Freedom inside the CoE , when she Spoke out Loudly, Against several among the  Obstacles it attempted to Oppose to normal Journalistic activities and established Press practices, during this Morning's PACE Press Briefing (Comp. Supra).

But, despite PACE CEO Sawicki's and Press Officers' kind Promises that such and other Criticism from Samantha and several more European Medias, would be "Transmitted" to those responsible for taking Final Decisions, since Nothing hasN't yet been Rectified or Changed for the Better, on this matter, spontaneously preferring to be Careful, "Eurofora" ...Auto-Censored itself, and totally Abstained from Raising Any Question to CoE's SG Jagland, on this Good and Timely Occasion...

=> So that, we shall Never Know what CoE's Head, the Experienced Thornbjorn Jagland,  might, eventually, have had to Say, and What Message he might wish to send to all involved, just Before this Crucial Week-End, at the Eve of an Exceptionaly Important CoE Assembly's Plenary Session, Next Week in Strasbourg, (Comp. Supra), in order to be Published in WideSpread English Language PanEuropean Media Timely,

i.e. exactly when all those involved are notoriously Preparing their Last-Minute Compromises, Ideas, and/or Concrete Proposals, in order to Find a Solution able to Help the PanEuropean CoE's Organisation to Overcome that Crisis and Advance Ahead in the foreseable Future, (Comp. Supra).

***

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "Eurofora" just after being Elected, earlier Today, as the New PanEuropean Commissioner for Data Protection, Jean-Philippe Walter, an Experienced former Long-Time President of CoE's Experts in that area, and the man who pushed all the way along the Recent "Modernisation" of its Pioneer, Historic Convention, in close "Coordination" with the EU, surprized by Announcing his Intention to : - "First, Examine what is going on, in this regard, Inside the CoE itself !", as he told us for Strasbourg's 47 Member Countries - strong Organisation, which Includes also Russia and various Other Countries.

Walter was Officially Elected Today by CoE's competent "Committee for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data", during its Weekly Plenary Session of 19-21 June 2018.

The Event was announced during an Exceptional International Conference on the current Perspectives for Wider Cooperation in the Field of Data Protection for the foreseable Future, Both between EU and COE, as well as at a more or less Global Level, (Comp. also : ..., etc).

"Eurofora" has Already met with, and Published Walter's various Replies to our Questions on Topical Issues, at several Earlier Occasions in the Past, (as, f.ex., at : ... + ..., etc).

After Graduating with a Master in Law from the University of Fribourg, in Switzerland, Jean-Philippe Walter succesfully presented a Doctoral Thesis on "the Protection of the (Human) Personality during the Processing of Data for Statistical reasons", and Worked as University Assistant, Legal Expert at the Swiss Federal  Administration, Head of Data Protection at the Ministry of Justice, and Deputy Federal Commissioner on Data Protection and Information (from 1993 until Now : 2018), as well as vice-Chairman of the French-Speaking Association of Data Protection Authorities during a Decade (2007-12/2016), while also Regularly making Working Visits at the COE in Strasbourg for about 30 Years, where he Chaired its PanEuropean Committee of Experts on Data Protection, and, Twice, also CoE's Committee on its relevant, Pioneer Convention, (known as "108"), before Dealing, more Recently, with its Modernisation, in Coordination with the EU's relevant Directive on 2018, etc.

Thus, Walter's usual Scope is much Larger than CoE's 47 Member States, (including Russia, etc), since its above-mentioned Convention already has 52 Member Countries, and its New, recently Modernized Version is Aimed to Become progressively Global, (Comp., f.ex., at : ..., etc).

- While Stressing that, First of all, it was very "Important to have a Good European Coordination", between EU and the CoE, in order to Better "Integrate" EU's recent Directive with CoE's Pioneer and recently Modernized landmark Convention on Data Protection, as well as ECHR's "Historic" relevant "Case Law", Walter, also pointed Today at the "Strong Interest" that are showing, in this regard, Various Countries in the World, (Comp. also "Eurofora"s NewsReport : ...).

+ At the same time, Walter also spoke Now in Favor of "Transparency", including "vis a vis Civil Society", as well as in favor of the search of the Largest possible "Consensus", if not "Unanimity", at the end of the process.

- Walter told "Eurofora" that he Expects, for the New, "Modernized" Version of CoE's landmark, Historic Convention on Individuals' Data Protection, - for which he Succeeded to Efficiently Contribute Both for the closest possible Agreement with the EU, and to Find a Deal with Russia on a series of Key points (including on Security and Trans-Border Data Flows in relation with USA's role in recent practice, etc) - to probably get more than 28 or 30 Signatures from European Countries on Autumn 2018, before Reaching the Threshold of 37 Ratifications, in order to Enter into Force during the Next Few Years.

- In Fact, our (CoE's) Initial "Draft" Text, has Not Changed Very Much, and we Could have Arrived at a Conclusion much Earlier, but "Brussels' Agenda" from the EU "Influenced" CoE's course, as well as the Need to Broker an Agreement with Russia, etc. However, it was Worthwhile to strive for the Largest possible EU-CoE "Coordination" and Political "Consensus", he pointed out.

Simple People might probably Like to See CoE's new Commissioner on Data Protection to Dare immediately Check rather such things as our everyday ...SmartPhones, and/or "Twitter"'s recent Controversial Policies, etc., the Soonest possible, after he finishes asap. with his Idea to First "Check inside CoE", as he Told us, (Comp. Supra).

But, if he insists to really practice his "Transparency", prior "Consultation", close "Coordination", and/or the Largest "Consensus"-Seeking Methods (Comp. Supra), also throughout PanEuropean CoE's various Buildings, who have progressively Mushroomed around Strasbourg's European Quarter, then, they might have to ...Wait a bit :

However, Hopefully Not so much as his Team of Experts was obliged to give for that recent "Modernization" of COE's Historic "Convention 108", (now Changed into "Convention 108+"), for the reasons explained above (and that he Regretted) : More than 7 Years (2009-2018) !

That's probably one reason more for which Walter appeared, Today, speaking to "Eurofora", rather Glad to be called, No more "Mr. President" (of a CoE's Committee, as in the Past), but, from Now on, "Mr. Commissioner"...

It might make some things much more Easy.

***

*Strasbourg/COE/Angelo Marcopolo/- The New CoE's Director General for Legal and Human Rights Affairs, Christos Giakoumopoulos from Greece, speaking to "Eurofora" after an International Conference, with key participants from all Continents of the World, on the Perspectives of the New EU and CoE Legal Tools for Personal Data Protection in the foreseable Future, that he Opened with an official speech at the PanEuropean COE's Headquarters in Strasbourg, pointed, in substance, to the Fact that Europe may, Nowadays, - thanks to EU-CoE close Cooperation, particularly in that area, and CoE's original Convention System,- develop also a much Wider, Global Impact in this Key Issue on Digital Technologies :

- EU and CoE have closely followed each other's recent efforts to Modernise their relevant Legal Tools, with EU's recent New Directive in that matter, which has just entered into force on May 2018, and CoE's New Version, adopted Earlier on 2018, of its Pioneer, Historic Convention "for the Protection of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data", with Experts striving to Coordinate their moves.

 - But EU's Legal System is, in principle, Focused mainly on its 28 Member States, (27 if the UK's BREXIT is soon realized), while the PanEuropean CoE, in Addition to its 47 Member States, (including Russia, etc), has also a Particular Characteristic in many among its Legal Conventions : They can (and Often are, as in the Presenrt Case) "Also Open to Any Other, 3rd Country, even Non-Member of this Organisation, and even Beyond Europe, from All over the World, Giakoumopoulos observed.

+ AnOther such relevant Case is, f.ex., also CoE's "Budapest" Convention for the Fight against "Cyber-Crime", where f.ex., in addition to Russia, it's also, often, several Key participants from the USA who take place in its widely attended Annual Conferences in Strasbourg, a Next one being, currently, Scheduled for July 2018.

=> Thus, f.ex., CoE's relevant Convention for Personal Data Protection has Already as many as 52 Member States, in its Classic Version. And, Today, during the above-mentioned Conference, several Key Participants, also from Other Continents of the World, confirmed the current Perspectives for many Important New Accessions to Both, Old and New, "Modernized" Version(s) of that landmark Legal Treaty, including, f.ex., Representatives from Mexico, Argentina, Morocco, Ghana, New Zealand, etc., (while Others, as Tunisia and Capo Verde, etc, have Already become recently Members), to which are also Added Nowadays probable Estimations even for South Korea, Japan, Chile, etc.

- Experienced CoE's Deputy Secretary General, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, from Italy, who gave a Concluding Speech at the Closing Session of Today's International Conference, significantly went as Far as to even, Characteristically  ...Play with Words and Express her Wish for COE's New, "Modernized" Version of its Landmark, Pioneer PanEuropean Convention for the protection of Individuals whenever their Personal Data are Processed, to Be Soon Named : "Global" Convention !...

- Nowadays, about "126 Countries", accross the World, already have some kind of "Data Protection Laws", more or less well developed, observed, meanwhile, Professor Graham Greenleaf, from Australia, before going down to more concrete Details about his Estimations on their most probable stance vis a vis Cooperation with Europe on this Topical Issue.

----------------------------

- In fact, "what Counts most for the CoE, is that this Convention has Human Rights at its core, which currently, Face notorious Challenges in a "Connected" Environment of various Digital Communication Technologies, Giakoumopoulos went on to stress, as a matter of Principle.

+ Indeed, other Participants in this Conference, pointed also to the Fact that even the Modernized, New Version of the above-mentioned CoE's Convention makes an Explicit Reference to the Core Value of "Human Dignity".

CoE had, in fact, Already Drafted its main Text quite a Long Time Ago, but it had, Meanwhile, to Solve at least 2 Serious Problems : Find a workable Compromise mainly with Russia, (as far as it concerns Trans-Border Flow of Data and USA's role, as well as Security Issues, etc), and Discuss, moreover, how to Coordinate Efficiently with EU's parallel work on its Recent Directive, (Comp. Supra).

The Next Step for that CoE's "Convention 108", as it's Traditionaly nick-named, (Nowadays' New Version Adding a "Plus" after its Name, i.e. resulting in "Convention 108+"), is currently Scheduled for the forthcoming Autumn of 2018, when Dozens of Countries are Expected to Sign the "Modernized" Legal Document, whose Entry into Force has been Fixed by CoE's Highest Political Body, that of its Committee of Ministers, at the Threshhold of at least 37 Countries, a Number reportedly due to be reached in the next few years, if not even earlier.

The main point is that, Now, a Key Movement has Started, with a Political Will to Help it Spread World-wide, at the Greater possible Extend, in this particularly Global Issue.

***